On August 29,the woman reported that her son had drowned in a residential pool at Munbura,near Mackay.
But police said post-mortem and scientific examinations indicated the cause of death was inconsistent with drowning and,as a result,a homicide investigation codenamed Operation Tango Anise was launched.
Detective Inspector Tom Armitt said the boy was at home with his mother,and she was the one who reported the death.
“At this present stage,the cause of death is unknown,however it’s believed the child was deceased before being placed or entering the pool,” he said.
Inspector Armitt said police had been questioning the boy’s parents,who had been “very co-operative”.
“They have been helping us with our investigations,and we have been speaking with a number of persons in the surrounding area,and also friends and relatives of the family,” he said.
“We’re dealing with the death of a four-year-old boy,and obviously a small child who relies heavily on the care of other people,adults.
“Obviously he’s a small,vulnerable person,which is why we’re spending so much time and attention on this investigation.”
Inspector Armitt said there were no persons of interest,and the parents were not believed to be known to police.
He would not comment on who else was at home at the time,or whether police thought the death suspicious when they arrived there.
Mackay detectives from the Child Protection Investigation Unit’s State Child Trauma Unit are conducting the investigation.
Inspector Armitt asked anyone with information about the case to come forward,including anyone who drove past the home on the day and noticed anything untoward or had a conversation with the mother after the incident.